Comatose Boy Breathing On His Own

Parents Remain At Odds Over Continuing Life Support For Toddler

August 13, 1994|By MIKE FOLKS Staff Writer

Tylor Crotteau, the 18-month-old comatose boy whose parents are at odds over whether his life support should be halted, returned on Friday to St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach breathing on his own.

Doctors at Miami Children's Hospital, where Tylor has been since July 29, have been weaning him from the respirator since Wednesday.

The boy suffered brain damage in a July 8 near-drowning when he slipped unnoticed from his grandmother's Royal Palm Beach home, climbed a pool ladder and fell into an above-ground pool.

The respirator is still used at times to help expand Tylor's lungs as he breathes, but he's breathing on his own, doctors say.

Despite Tylor's independent breathing, his father, Kurt Crotteau, 23, will not give up his legal battle to stop all life-prolonging measures being used on Tylor - at least for now. "The judge must decide what is in the best interest of the child, and quality of life will be an issue," said Bill Johnson, one of Kurt Crotteau's attorneys.

Tylor's mother, Tabitha Crotteau, 23, has refused to give up hope that her son will recover.

When Tylor's father asked a judge on July 27 to halt his son's life support, removal of the respirator was the most discussed option to end the boy's life.

Doctors at St. Mary's Hospital had tried to take Tylor off the respirator in late July, but put him back on when he experienced breathing problems.

But if Palm Beach County Judge Gary Vonhof grants Kurt Crotteau's request in the next few weeks, the only option to end Tylor's life would be to cut off his food supply, which he receives through a tube, Johnson said.

"The fact that he can breathe on his own doesn't affect that he's going to be in a vegetative state, and that's the key issue the court will have to decide," Johnson said.

"By withholding the hydration and nutrients [from Tylor), basically you would be starving the child," Johnson said. "Tylor has absolutely no awareness of his environment, no awareness of pain, no drive for thirst, food. It could be done and Tylor would not be in any pain whatsoever."

Dr. Roman Pena, one of Tylor's attending physicians at St. Mary's Hospital, said Johnson was correct.

"[Tylor) would get dehydrated and then have metabolic problems. I don't think he would suffer any," Pena said.

Jim Farrell, an attorney representing Tylor's mother, said his client is intent on fighting to give her son a chance to recover.

"Basically, he's breathing on his own. She's pleased with his progress," Farrell said.

Last month, Tabitha Crotteau argued before Vonhof that Tylor should be given more time to recover. Vonhof agreed, denying Kurt Crotteau's request to end Tylor's life support and ordering him transferred to Miami Children's Hospital for a second opinion.

Vonhof must make the ultimate decision whether to end Tylor's life after considering the opinions of Tylor's doctors. He also will consider a report from a court-appointed guardian, who will make recommendations on what would be best for Tylor.

Doctors at both hospitals have said Tylor is in a chronic vegetative state and is likely never to improve because of severe brain damage caused by the near-drowning. Although he has minimal brain activity, he will probably never respond to stimuli or communicate with people, the doctors have concluded.